Roller-skate



'(MOdeL) I P. DRIPFILL.

ROLLER SKATE No. 316,342. Patented Apr. 21, 1885.

FREDERICK DRIFFILL, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOR TO HEATON J.

BRESSLES, OF SAME PLACE, AND GEORGE A. REYNOLDS, OF TOLEDO,

OHIO.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,342, dated April21, 1885.

(ModeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK DRIFFILL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sterling, in the county of IVhiteside and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invent-i011 has reference to improvements in roller-skates, andpertains more especially to certain novel mechanism by which the sidepressure of the foot of the skater will deflect the respective pairs ofwheels in opposite directions from a direct line, and means forautomatically returning such wheels to a direct line after such pressureis removed, as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a skate embodying myinvention,with the nearer wheels removed to show the interior parts.Fig. 2 is a view in detail of the parts employed.

A is the foot-plate having rigidly attached on its lower face in pairsthe downwardly-extending posts B and B. In the lower ends of the posts Band B are formed horizontal sockets a, in which is journaled thelongitudinal rock-shaft G. Y

The shaft 0 is provided at its center and between the posts B and B witha bolsterbase, and is pivotally seated thereat on the bench D by meansof a stud, a, formed on the upper surface at the center of such bench,and extending upward nearly or quite through the shaft 0, and held inplace by a screw, cl, having its head seated on the upper face of theshaft 0,

and its thread passed downward into a corresponding thread cut in theupper end of the stud c. A hole, 6, in the plate A, directly over thescrew (2, affords ready access to the latter.

The lower end of the bench D is suitably supported by the axleE of thecarrying-wheels F, passing transversely through the legs 9 thereof. ThewheelsF rotate upon the axle E.

It will be observed that the construction heretofore described willpermit the oscillation in a horizontal plane of the axle E, and also ofa lateral oscillation of the shaft 0. These motions are essential toaccomplish movements in curved lines, and also to permit all of thewheels to remain on the floor in the different positions andoscillations of the skaters foot. To limit the flexibility in thisregard, and also to automatically restore the skate to both a verticaland right-line position, Isupplement the following mechanism.

On the outer face of the lower end of each inner post, B, is formed therigid segmental bevel-gear h, which rests in and engages a correspondinggear, 1;, on the inner upper edge of the bench D. By this provision theskater, by a lateral oscillation of his foot, shared by the plate A,through the medium of the gear h on the post B, forces the axle E, andwith it the wheels F, a corresponding degree from a right line in eitherdirection, as may be desired.

To return the skate to a perpendicular and right-line position, Irigidly aftix a downwardly-extending post, G, to the lower face of theplate A, inside of and in aline with each pair of posts B and B.

- A bifurcated plate, H, having a hole, It, in its end, is placed withits bifurcated ends 8 resting respectively on the top of the shaft O,one of such ends passing on each side of the inner post, B, and suchhole It passed up on the post G to nearly the under surface of the plateA. The plate H is bent vertically near its longitudinal center, and suchbent portion rests as a fulcrum on the flattened or flanged base of thepost B. The latter post serves as a guide for the plate H, and toprevent the lateral oscillation or turning of the latter.

A coiled spring, L, placed on the post G, abutting at its upper endagainst the inner end of the plate H, and held adjustably by means of awasherand a thumb-screw, M, at the lower end of the post G, holds theouter and bifurcated ends, 8, of the plate H flexibly down upon theshaft 0 at points on the latter outside of its axis or center of motion.The ends 8 of the plate H are at all times in a line parallel with theplate A. Therefore,when the shaft 0 is oscillated laterally, that sideof the latter shaft. which rises alone presses against the plate H andcompresses the spring L, and, as soon as the lateral pressure of theskaters foot is removed, such spring operates to return the shaft 0 to aposition in which both ends 8 of the plate H rest thereon, that beingthe normal position of such shaft 0.

The turning upon the skatesis more readily accomplished if each pair ofwheels F is deflected in opposite directions. This is effected in myinvention by placing the segmental gear h on the post B, each of thelatter standing inward from its correlative post, B, the operation ofthe lateral roll of the foot being thereby communicated to differentsides of the re-- spective axles E. The return movement of the skatersfoot acts positively, through the gear h, to assist the spring L torestore the skate to the direct position.

One advantage of the use of the plate H over rubber springs asheretofore used is, that in the rock of the shaft 0 but one side of suchplate presses upon such shaft when the latter is rocked from its normalposition, and there fore there is nothing on the opposite side of suchshaft to oppose its return, while in the case of rubber springs the sideof the spring relieved expands with some degree of force.

against the receding plate and resists the return of such plate, and,the opposing sides of of power required to move the mechanism operatedupon. In other words, of two sides of a spring having equal expansiveforce one is required to compress the other and exert a sufiicientadditional power to move the attached devices. It is obvious that theresult under such circumstances must be incomplete. Also in my inventionthe tension of the spring L can be changed.

N is a stud affixed to the upper face of the plate A, and havingavertical rear face against which the front of the heel-tap of theskater abuts.

O is a strap suitably attached to the plate A, slightly forward of thestud N, and adapted to pass diagonally backward and upward and befastened over the foot, over the counter of the boot, and behind theankle. 'In this position the strap 0 draws directly toward the stud Nand fastens the rear of the skate to the foot, thus dispensing with astrap over the instep, which latter is objectionable as destroying thespring in the arch of the foot. The bench D may be integral with theaxle E.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent oftheUnited States, is

1. In a roller-skate, the combination of the plate A, posts B and B,shaft 0, provided with a bolsterbase, the bifurcated plate H, the postG, and spring L, substantially as shown, and for the purpose mentioned.

' 2. In a roller-skate, the combination of the plate A, posts B and B,the latter provided ,,with the gear h, the shaft 0, having abolsterbase, the bench D. provided with the gear 2, the axle E, the postG, the bifurcated plate H, and the spring L, substantially as shown, andfor the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK DRIFFILL.

\Vitnesses:

WALTER N. HASKELL, WILLIAM MANAHAN.

